For any of you on a strict diet, trying to exercise and lose weight, I’m right there with you. It’s a recurring theme here on the Itch to Beat Psoriasis to address hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and lose weight. However, the best of intentions often remain just that—intentions. My last dermatology appointment felt like my morning alarm going off for the fifth time. This time I couldn’t hit the snooze button just once more. It’s time to wake up. More and more articles are confirming the connection between psoriasis and other health problems, including heart risk failure.
Psoriasis: More than Skin Deep
It’s all the more urgent and necessary to get on top of my health, as researchers learn how psoriasis is not only a skin disease. I’ve already written recently on how psoriasis is not just a rash. As one doctor in the online article “Psoriasis Problems More Than Skin Deep” says:
“It’s a mistake to think that psoriasis is just a skin disease,” Dr. Goldenberg said. “We now know that it’s a disease of systemic inflammation. On the skin, psoriasis shows as red, inflamed patches. Similar inflammation likely occurs throughout the body, which can lead to diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.”
Even though I know this in my head, my stomach still wants to eat what it wants to eat. And exercise is not generally as fun for me as watching others engage in sports on television. I need more motivation, and education.
Need for Education
Another more recent article, “Patient education on heart failure risk is crucial in psoriasis” kept me up half one-night wondering if my heart would stop. Sparing the dramatics, the evidence continues to grow that those with psoriasis (and their doctors) need to keep a vigilant eye for cardiovascular risks, among others:
“The increased risk of cardiovascular disease for patients with psoriasis may be of a similar magnitude as other well-described CV risk factors, such as uncontrolled hypertension,” said Dr. Bruce E. Strober of the University of Connecticut, Farmington. “Further, epidemiological studies show that psoriasis patients have a shortened life expectancy, likely as a result of their experience with CV comorbitidies.”
Take Charge
All this bad news could make a psoriasis sufferer depressed. High risks for comorbidities. Lowered life expectancies. Education is a necessary first step, but it’s time to take charge. Getting healthier doesn’t come from reading more articles online.
The last couple of weeks since the appointment I’ve done better with both food and exercise. I’ve walked most every day, mostly in my neighborhood, and logged my food intake each meal. One online tool I’ve been using to help me track my diet and exercise (especially sodium intake) is MyFitnessPal. I can input my information either through the website or on my smartphone. As long as I login to my account, I can choose the ease of input on my laptop, or the convenience of input on the run with my iPhone. Either way, the application keeps me honest and focused on my health goals. I definitely have those days I don’t want to log everything, but when I do I can see the stats for my intake of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, sodium, potassium, and other dietary components. Today I’m proud to say I hit my caloric intake goals, and my sodium intake was lower than in recent days.
With my dermatologist threatening to send me to my primary care physician for medications to lower my risk factors for cardiovascular disease, I am seriously motivated this time. I don’t want to take any more medications than I have to. And I do want to be there for my family, especially as children grow into adulthood from the teenagers they all are today. While some of that is up to God and the doctors, the rest is up to me.